It was a forgettable outing for the Indian cricket staff of their final worldwide match of 2023. Against South Africa, India have been anticipated to ship an excellent present in what has been known as the ‘Final Frontier’ of the staff. However, what resulted on the bottom will be known as a listless present. After India’s first innings ended on 245, South Africa notched an enormous 408-run whole, courtesy Dean Elgar‘s 185. In the second innings, Virat Kohli (76) waged a lone battle, as Indians have been all out for simply 131. India misplaced the match by an innings and 32 runs.

Only Kohli and Shubman Gill (26) reached double-digit figures within the second innings. Four Indian batters couldn’t even rating a run. India nice Sachin Tendulkar took to social media to voice his opinion on the present.

“Well played South Africa! While I initially felt the South African team would’ve been unhappy after the 1st innings, their pace attack surpassed expectations and showcased remarkable skill in the 2nd innings, in spite of the pitch becoming more favourable for batting as the match progressed,” Sachin Tendulkar wrote in a protracted submit on X.

“From whatever I watched, India’s shot selection left much to be desired. Throughout the Test, only a few batters, namely Elgar, Jansen, Bedingham, @imVkohli and @klrahul truly seemed at ease with the bat, navigating the conditions with technique and poise. #SAvIND”

Well performed South Africa!

While I initially felt the South African staff would’ve been sad after the first innings, their tempo assault surpassed expectations and showcased outstanding ability within the 2nd innings, despite the pitch changing into extra beneficial for batting because the…

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 28, 2023

South Africa thus took an unassailable 1-0 lead within the two-match sequence and India’s desires of profitable a Test sequence in Rainbow Nation for the primary time in 31 years lay in tatters.

Only redemption now may very well be 1-1 draw in the event that they managed to sq. the sequence through the New Year’s Test in Cape Town.

Indian staff put up a shoddy batting present, which signified its cluelessness and singular lack of preparedness for a troublesome project like this.

It has been a horrible final six to seven weeks for skipper Rohit Sharma, who misplaced World Cup ultimate, was faraway from Mumbai Indians captaincy two weeks again and now did not seem like a frontrunner that made him an immediate favorite through the World Cup.

The staff additionally appeared a bit like its skipper, dishevelled and with none plan B for course correction.

As Bob Marley’s iconic “Don’t worry, Everything Gonna be Alright” blared from loudspeakers, the Indian staff have to be questioning how nothing went alright by means of whole course of the match.

With PTI inputs